Automatic key remover



Sept. 6, 1966 w. F. HlRscH AUTOMATIC KEY REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1964 g 15p W55 f'7 x` v L-- l N VENTOR. F HIRSCH WA LTE F? BY HSM ATTORNEY Sept-6, 1966 w. F. HlRscH AUTOMATIC KEY REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1964 INVENTOR. WALTER F'. l-l/SCH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,270,539 AUTOMATIC KEY REMOVER Walter F. Hirsch, 6721 SW. 26th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,223 S Claims. (Cl. 70-414) This invention relates to locks and keys and is directed particularly to a key holder device operative to automatically eject a key from a lock when the key is in a position permitting its removal While the invention has application to rotary key mechanism locks of all kinds, it is particularly well suited for use with automotive vehicle ignition locks, and is directed herein for use with such locks by way of example.

It is a well known fact that a great many automobile thefts would not occur but for the fact that ignition keys are often carelessly left in their locks. Because automobile thefts resulting from such carelessness not infrequently a-re involved in accidents, it is not surprising that laws have been enacted making it a misdemeanor to leave an unattended vehicle with the ignition keys in the lock on the public streets.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to provide a key holder including mechanism for automatically removing the key from the lock when turned to off position, thereby making it impossible to inadvertently or carelessly leave the key in the ignition lock after turning off the motor.

It is a more particular object to provide a key holder of the character described which includes spring pressed mechanism energized upon the insertion of the key in the lock, to automatically swiftly eject the key when turned o loff or neutral position and project it away from the It is still another object to provide a key holder device of the above nature which serves as an attractive and convenient holder for the key when not in use, and which can be inexpensively enough produced to be used as a promotional give-away item.

Yet another object is to provide a key holder device of the character above described including a thumb-actuated catch mechanism for rendering the ejecting mechanism inoperative, to prevent ejection of a key in on position when used With locks of the type permitting withdrawal of the key when locked or on.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple in structure, easy to use, attractive in appearance, well adapted to use with a wide variety of keys of various shapes and sizes, and durable and dependable in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in side elevation, a key remover embodying the invention with an ignition key assembled thereto, the assembly being shown at a position immediately after its ejection from the lock;

FIG. 2 illust-rates the key remover with assembled key in inserted position in an ignition lock with the ignition turned on FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the key remover, shown separately `and in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the device as seen from the top;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View, in longitudinal section and on an enlarged scale, of the key remover shown assembled and tted with a key;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the sliding sleeve member locked in withdrawn posltion;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in side elevation, a modified form of key remover embodying the invention wherein the catch mechanism comprises a slide bar;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the sliding sleeve member in withdrawn position for receiving the slide bar catch;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the slide bar catch moved into latching position with respect to the sliding sleeve member;

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate, in perspective, mechanical details of the slide bar and sliding sleeve member in their relatively unlatched and latched positions; and

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 .in FIGS. 1 and 2 designates a key remover embodying the invention, the same comprising, generally, a holder 4housing member 11, a key guide member 12, a sliding sleeve member 13, a compression spring 14, a catch member 13a and an assembly sleeve nut and screw 15, 15a.

The holder housing member 11, which is preferably molded of a tough synthetic plastic, is of rectangular cross-sectional shape and has an elongated body portion 16 one end of which is integrally formed with a front end portion 17 of increased thickness. The body portion 16 of the holder housing member 11 is formed with an interior chamber 18 of rectangular cross-section defining at its rear an end wall 19 and communicating at its front end with a thro-ugh opening 2t) of equal rectangular crosssection in the front end portion 17 of said holder housing member. The sidewalls of the interior chamber 18 are formed therealong with central, opposed, arcuate grooves 21, 22 defining a cylindrical recess of such size as to retain the helical compression spring 14 in guiding relationship in its compressional and expansional movement, as is hereinbelow more fully described.

The front end portion 17 of the holder housing memlber 11 is provided with a central vertical slot 23 for the reception of a key handle, and a central transverse bore Z4, counter-sunk at the outsides for the reception of the assembly sleeve nut and screw 15, 15a, as is hereinbelow more particularly described. The end wall 19 of the key holder housing member 11 is preferably formed with a loop 25 for attachment `to a chain or the like, if desired. The top of the body portion 16, near the front end thereof, is provided with a longitudinal recess 26, slightly spaced `from the rear end of which is a rectangular opening 26a extending into the interior chamber 18 of said body portion. The recess 26 and opening 26a dene a short rear bottom surface portion 26b and a relatively long front bottom surface portion 26C in said recess. The catch member 13a, which is also molded of a tough resilient synthetic plastic material, is journalled within the longitudinal recess 26 above the rectangular opening 26a by a transverse metal pin 27. The catch member 13a is formed with an inwardlypro jecting nose portion 2S having in front a cam surface portion 29 inwardly inclined from front to back, and a perpendicular catch face portion 30. The catch member 13a is also integrally formed with a rearwardly-ex tending abutment portion 31 which normally seats upon the rear bottom surface portion 2611 of the recess 26 to limit anti-clockwise motion of said catch mem-ber with respect to the holder housing member 11 (as seen in FIG. 5), and an upwardly-extending widened thumb piece 32. The thumb piece 32 is integrally molded with a narrow, rearwardly and downwardly-extending slide finger 33, the outer end of which rests upon the front bottom surface portion 26C of the recess '26.

The key guide member 12, also preferably molded of a tough synthetic plastic, comprises a rectangular collar portion 34 adapted to t over the shank of a key, from opposite sides of which extend side wall portions 35 and 36 of such width as to fit slidingly within the front end portion 17 of the holder housing member 11 against each side of the through opening 2i). As illustrated in FIG. 14, the upper and lower inner sides of the rectangular collar portion 34 are formed with central, inwardly-eX- tending projections 34a and 34h which seat against the upper and lower edges, respectively, of a key shank assembled to the key holder to prevent rotative movement of the key with respect to the holder, as hereinbelow more,fully explained. The side wall portions 35 and 36 are provided with registering elongated slots 37, 38 for through passage of the assembly sleeve nut 15.

The sliding sleeve member 13, also preferably integrally molded of a tough synthetic plastic material, comprises a pair of spaced, parallel, elongated side portions 39, 40 joined at their inner ends by a connecting wall portion 41 having a recess 42 for seating the outer end of the spring 14, as is illustrated in FIG. 5. The side portions 39, 40 are of the same width as that of the side wall portions 35, 36 of the key guide -member 12. The outer ends of the side members 32, 33 are joined by a rectangular collar portion 43, the outer peripheral surface of Which is preferably rounded, as shown, and the inner surface of which at the top and bottom is rounded, as indicated at 43a, to prevent catching of said collar portion against the shoulder or shoulders at the front end of a key shank. The width and thickness of that part of the sliding sleeve member 13 defined by the side members 39, 40 is such as to be slidingly received in embracing relation within the collar portion 34 of the retainer member 12. The Side portions 39, 40 of the sliding sleeve member 13 are provided with opposed, elongated slots 44, 45, respectively, which register with the slots 37, 38 of the key guide member 12 when said sliding sleeve member is assembled thereto and to the holder housing member 11.

In `the assembly of a key to the key remover 10, the sliding sleeve member 13 will first be fitted through the collar portion 34 of the key guide member 12 to be telescopingly received therein, after which the handle of the key K will be placed between the side portions 39, 40 of said sleeve member with the key shank extending outwardly of the collar portion 43 thereof. The spacing between the side portions 39, 4f) is such as to receive the key with a sliding fit. The key assembly will then be placed within the vertical slot 23 of the holder housing member 11 with the key guide member 12 pushed backwardly so that its slots 37, 38 register with the opening in the handle of the key and `with the slots 44, 45 in the side portions 39, 40 of the sliding sleeve member 13. The sleeve nut will then be placed through one end of the transverse `bore 24 at the front end portion 17 of the holder housing member 11 and through said key opening and slots and retained by the screw 15a extending through the other end of said bore to complete the assembly. It is to be noted that the outer end of the sleeve nut 15 provides a shoulder against which the head of the screw 15a seats to prevent binding of the key guide mechanism in the holder housing member 11.

In use, the compression spring 14, constrained between the inside of the end wall 19 of the holder housing member 11 and the inner end of the sliding sleeve member v13, serves to resiliently hold said sleeve member at its outer-most position, whereat the tip of the key shank will project slightly from the collar portion 42 thereof, as illustrated .in FIG. 5. Upon insertion of the key in a lock, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the collar portion 43 of the sleeve member 13 will engage the outside of the lock key opening and `be pushed back against the urging of the spring 14. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the key is in fully inserted position, the connecting wall portion 41 of the sleeve member 13 will have slid past the front cam surface portion 29 of the nose portion 28 of the catch 13a, to catch behind the catch face portion 30 -thereof to retain said sleeve member in withdrawn position and thereby prevent ejection of the key when used with ignition locks of the kind permitting withdrawal of the key when in on position. Upon turning the key to olif or neutral position again, the thumb `will be pressed against the thumb piece 32 of the catch member 13a to rotate the catch surface portion 30 over the top of the connecting Wall portion 41 0f the sleeve member 13, thereby releasing it to permit its forward movement under the force of compression spring 14, whereby it will push upon the key lock to eject the key as illustrated in FIG. l.

FIGS. 8 through 13 illustrate a modification of the invention wherein a slide bar 46 is utilized as a latching means instead of the catch member 13a. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 1l, the holder housing member 11a is provided with a through transverse rectangular opening 47 near the upper end and about midway along the length of the body portion 16a thereof in -which the slide bar 46 is slidingly received. As best illustrated in FIG. 12, the slide bar 46 is rectangular in shape and provided with a downwardly-projecting portion 48 lat one end and a pair of spaced side-to-side rectangular `openings 49, Si) in its bottom surface. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the slide bar 46 is retained in place by heading over the smaller outer end, indicated at 51, as by heat treatment of :a thermosetting synthetic plastic, for example. The slide -bar 46 is movable 'between -an unlatching position, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and l2, whereat the rear end of the sliding sleeve member 13b, in its in and out movement, can move freely past said `slide bar through the grooves 49 and 59 thereof, and a latching posit-ion, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13, whereat rear portions of the sliding sleeve member will abut back side portions of said slide bar to prevent return movement of said sleeve member under the urging of the spring 14. To this end, the top of the connecting wall portion 41a of the sliding sleeve member 13b is provided with a central, longitudinally-extending slot 52 Ifor passage of the depending portion 53 of the slide -bar 46 defined by the grooves 49 and 50 thereof, and transversely-registering rectangular recesses 54 and 55 in the side portions 39a, 43a just to the rear of said connecting wall portion.

In use, when it is desired to Ilatch the sliding sleeve member 13b in inoperative position, the slide bar 46 -will be pushed, after insertion of the key in its lock, from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position shown in FIG. l1, whereupon said slide bar, passing through the rectangular recesses 54 and 55 in the sliding sleeve member 13b will move its rectangular openings 49, 50 out of register with the upper edges of the side portions 39a, 40a of said slide member defined by said recesses 54 and S5 so that the rear ones of said upper edge surfaces will abut against rear side surface portions of said slide bar to block return or outward movement of the sleeve member 13b. The pushing in of the slide bar 46 can conveniently be accomplished by the forefinger while still grasping the key holder upon insertion of the key. Upon removal of the key, it is a simple matter at the same time to press the slide bar into unlatching position with the thumb, so that the key will be automatically ejected as described above.

It is to be noted that in each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention the key guide member 12, being constrained to longitudinal movement with respect to the key holder housing 11 by its sliding fit -within the rectangular opening 20 in the front end port-ion 17 of said housing member, and having collar projections 34a, 34h which seat against the upper and lower edges of the key shank near the key handle, strictly limits any tendency toward rotational motion of the key about the central sleeve nut 15. The key is thus constrained to longitudinal movement with respect to the sliding sleeve members 13 or 13b to prevent cat-ching of the key teeth against the inside edges of the front collars thereof. It is also to be noted that the length of the elongated slots 37, 38 in the key guide member 12 permits adjustment in assembly to the key remover device of keys varying over a wide range in handle -shape :and handle opening size.

While I have illustrated and described only two forms in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that these forms are given by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. My invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the Iscope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Leters Patent is:

1. An automatic key remover comprising, in combination, a housing member, an elongated opening in said housing member, a key guide member slidingly received in said housing opening, means constraining said key guide member to longitudinal movement with respect to said housing opening, a sliding sleeve member telescopingly received within said key guide member for in and out longitudinal movement with respect thereto, means limiting the longitudinal movement of said sliding sleeve member at inner and outer positions with respect to said housing member, means in said housing opening for yieldingly urging said sliding sleeve member to its outer limit position with respect to said key guide member, latch means for retaining said sliding sleeve member in withdrawn relation with respect to said key guide member against the urging of said urging means, said sliding sleeve member having a central slot of such width as to receive a flat key with the shank of the key projecting outwardly of the outer end of said sliding sleeve member, the outer end of said sliding sleeve member having abutment means ifor contact with outside portions of a key lock when the key is inserted within the lock by pushing upon said housing member, 'whereby said sliding sleeve member will be telescopingly received within said key guide member and said housing member opening.

2. An automatic key remover as dened in claim 1 wherein said key guide member comprises a rectangular collar portion and Ia pair of opposed parallel side wall portions extending outwardly of opposite sidesk of said collar portion, and wherein said sliding sleeve member comprises a pair of spaced, parallel side wall members formed at their inner ends by a connecting wall portion and at their outer ends by a sleeve collar portion comprising said abutment means.

3. An automatic key remover as defined in claim 2 wherein said key guide member constraining means and said sliding sleeve member movement limiting means c-omprise elongated registering slots formed in said side wall portions and said side wall members, and attachment means extending through a transverse opening in said housing member and through said side -wall portion slots.

4. An automatic key remover as defined in claim 3 wherein said housing member is formed with a key head slot in alignment with said central slot of said sliding sleeve member.

5. An automatic key remover as dened in claim 4 wherein said key guide member is of such length as to lit against the zone of juncture of a key head with its key shank for securing the key head within said key head slot.

6. An automatic key remover as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch means comprises a catch member rotatably journalled with respect to said housing member and having a cam surface and a catch face portion, the connecting wall portion of said slide sleeve member, when moved to withdrawn position, being operative to lift said cam surface to permit said catch rface portion to fall in latching position therebehind.

7. An automatic key remover as delined in claim 3 wherein said latch means comprises a slide bar received in aligned transverse openings in said housing member, and moveable between two positions, said slide bar having abutment means preventing outward movement of said sliding sleeve member when in one of said two positions, and permitting outward movement of said sliding sleeve member when in lthe other of -said two positions.

8. An automatic key remover as defined in claim 2 wherein said collar portion of said key guide member is provided with interior opposed projections for seating against the opposed edges of the shank of a key received in the central slot of said sliding sleeve member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,957 11/1932 Singleton 70-456 2,738,667 3/1956 Thompson 70-414 

1. AN AUTOMATIC KEY REMOVER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING MEMBER, AN ELONGATED OPENING IN SAID HOUSING MEMBER, A KEY GUIDE MEMBER SLIDINGLY RECEIVED IN SAID HOUSING OPENING, MEANS CONSTRAINING SAID KEY GUIDE MEMBER TO LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING OPENING, A SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER TELESCOPINGLY RECEVIED WITHIN SAID KEY GUIDE MEMBER FOR IN AND OUT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, MEANS LIMITING THE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER AT INNER AND OUTER POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING MEMBER, MEANS IN SAID HOUSING OPENING FOR YIELDINGLY URGING SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER TO ITS OUTER LIMIT POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID KEY GUIDE MEMBER, LATCH MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER IN WITHDRAWN RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID KEY GUIDE MEMBER AGAINST THE URGING OF SAID URGING MEANS, SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL SLOT OF SUCH WIDTH AS TO RECEIVE A FLAT KEY WITH THE SHANK OF THE KEY PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE OUTER END OF SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER, THE OUTER END OF SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING ABUTMENT MEANS FOR CONTACT WITH OUTSIDE PORTIONS OF A KEY LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED WITHIN THE LOCK BY PUSHING UPON SAID HOUSING MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID SLIDING SLEEVE MEMBER WILL BE TELESCOPINGLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID KEY GUIDE MEMBER AND SAID HOUSING MEMER OPENING. 